Paddy Pimblett will face Renato Moicano (referred to as Saint-Denis in the post) on July 11 at UFC 329. According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC is also working to book Max Holloway versus Conor McGregor for UFC 329 and Islam Makhachev versus Ian Garry for UFC 330. Additionally, Guram Kutateladze's coach (referred to as trainer of Pavlovich and others) expressed interest in a rematch with Alexander Volkov, claiming Pavlovich just needs to change tactics. The post also mentions Sean O'Malley teaching Nina how to ride a motorcycle and Anatoly Malykhin explaining why he won't leave ONE Championship for the UFC despite receiving offers.
Paddy Pimblett and Renato Moicano have been officially booked to meet at UFC 329 on July 11, adding a high-profile lightweight contest to what is shaping up to be a stacked card.
Pimblett, the charismatic English fighter who has built one of the most passionate fan bases in the sport, has been pushing for bigger names in the lightweight division. Moicano, a dangerous Brazilian with a well-rounded game, brings legitimate top-fifteen experience into the matchup, giving Pimblett arguably his stiffest test to date.
Beyond the Pimblett-Moicano booking, reporter Ariel Helwani has indicated the UFC is working to place additional marquee fights on the same card. Among them, Max Holloway is being targeted to face Conor McGregor at UFC 329. Holloway, 34, holds a 27-9 record and currently sits fourth in the lightweight rankings and ninth in the pound-for-pound standings. Fighting out of Gracie Technics, the Hawaiian is one of the most active strikers in the sport, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
For UFC 330, the promotion is reportedly targeting a welterweight title fight between champion Islam Makhachev and Ian Garry. Makhachev, also 34 and representing Eagles MMA out of Russia, carries a dominant 28-1 record and holds the pound-for-pound top spot in the rankings. He averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 58 percent of his significant strikes, making him a threat in virtually every phase of a fight.
Separately, the coach associated with Sergei Pavlovich has spoken publicly about pursuing a rematch with Alexander Volkov, suggesting a tactical adjustment is all that stands between Pavlovich and a different result. Volkov, 37, is the number-one ranked heavyweight with a 40-11 record. The towering Russian stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and lands strikes at 57 percent accuracy, averaging 4.78 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Pimblett vs. Moicano gives UFC 329 a legitimate lightweight co-feature with divisional ranking implications
- A potential Holloway-McGregor booking would be among the most commercially significant fights the UFC has assembled in years
- Makhachev vs. Garry, if confirmed for UFC 330, would put the welterweight title on the line against one of the division's fastest-rising contenders
